[Exit.

ACT II., SCENE I.

Enter LITTLE JOHN fighting with the SHERIFF and
his men; WARMAN persuading him.

LIT.  JOHN.  Warman, stand off! 
Tit-tattle, tell not me what ye can do: 
The goods, I say, are mine, and I say true.

WAR.  I say the Sheriff must see them, ere they go.

LIT.  JOHN.  You say so, Warman:  Little John says no.

SHER.  I say I must, for I am the king’s shrieve.

LIT.  JOHN.  Your must is false; your office I believe.

WATCH.  Down with him! down with him!

LIT.  JOHN.  Ye bark at me like curs, but I will down
With twenty “Stand, and who goes there?"[175] of you,
If ye stand long tempting my patience. 
Why, Master Sheriff, think you me a fool? 
What justice is there you should search my trunks,
Or stay my goods for that my master owes?

SHER.  Here’s Justice Warman, steward to your lord,
Suspects some coin, some jewels, or some plate
That ’longs unto your lord, are in your trunks,
And the extent is out for all his goods;
Therefore we ought to see none be convey’d.

WAR.  True, Little John; I am the sorrier.

LIT.  JOHN.  A plague upon ye else, how sore ye weep! 
Why, say, thou upstart, that there were some help,
Some little, little help in this distress,
To aid our lord and master comfortless,
Is it thy part, thou screen-fac’d snotty-nose,
To hinder him that gave thee all thou hast?

    Enter JUSTICE WARMAN’S [French] WIFE oddly attired.

WIFE.  Who’s that, husband? you, you! means he you?

WAR.  I, by’r Lady is it, I thank him.

WIFE.  Ah, ye knave you!  God’s pity, husband, why dis no your worship send the kneve to Newgate?

LIT.  JOHN.  Well, Master Sheriff, shall I pass or no?

SHER.  Not without search.

LIT.  JOHN.  Then here the casket stands: 
Any that dares unto it set their hands,
Let him begin.

WIFE.  Do, hisband;
You are a majesty:  I warrant
There’s old knacks, chains, and other toys.

LIT.  JOHN.  But not for you, good madam beetle-brows.

WIFE.  Out upon him!  By my truly, Master Justice, and ye do not clap him up, I will sue a bill of remorse, and never come between a pair of sheets with ye.  Such a kneve as this! down with him, I pray.

[Set upon him:  he knocks some down.

WIFE.  Ah, good Lord! come not near, good husband; only charge him, charge him!  Ah, good God! help, help!

Enter PRINCE JOHN, the BISHOP OF ELY, the
PRIOR OF YORK, with others.  All stay.

JOHN.  What tumult have we here? who doth resist
The king’s writs with such obstinate contempt?

WIFE.  This kneve.

WAR.  This rebel.